Neolithic Beads for the New Year
I recently received these gorgeous hand carved quartz Neolithic beads to bring into the New Year. They are an honor to handle. The feel of them makes be think of possibly how worry beads got started, they have been smoothed by touch for thousands of years. The colors are translucent and warm. The conical shape of the holes makes me ponder how they could have been carved by neolithic drills. I wonder how to work them into a necklace and still show the hole!
7 Neolithic Quartz beads and 1 Neolithic Agate from Mauritania
Also for the New Year, I made two new Djenne bead necklaces. They are not as old, only 2000 years old. They are all glass in shades of blue and green. The white or light color is denitrification, calcium accumulated from being in the desert sand for so long. Each one merits observation. Again, an honor to handle.
2 necklaces of Djenne beads, 2000 years old
These beads are larger than the Djenne seed beads I’ve used in necklaces in the past, and show one below for comparison.
3 necklaces of Djenne beads, 2000 years old, 2 large and 1 seed beads
Another new find for me, are the Shaman Beads shown below. They are 300 years old, created in Venice for African trade. The blue Dutch annular beads have large holes, so under them I placed antique white pony beads so the annulars can move. I was thrilled to find the wampum, and might make a woven cuff with the rest.
3 Shaman Beads (1800 Venice), 4 Dutch Annular beads (1800), 2 antique Venetian melon beads and Wampum beads
Detail of 3 Shaman Beads (1800 Venice), 4 Dutch Annular beads (1800), 2 antique Venetian melon beads and Wampum beads
I have many more exciting new (old, ancient antique and vintage) beads that I’ll be using in new necklaces, stay tuned!